Two minutes per month can save your life if you have testicles. It only takes two minutes to perform a self-exam for cancer of the testicles.
The truth is, most people don’t “check their berries”. Only 4 out of 10 men who were surveyed by Cleveland Clinic said that they regularly self-examined their testicles.
It’s a missed opportunity to prevent a serious health problem, according to urologist Samuel Haywood MD. Dr. Haywood says that testicular cancer can be treated very effectively, with a 95% cure rate. “But it is important to be aware of it in order to treat it.”
How to test for testicular Cancer
It is best to do this activity after taking a warm shower or bath. Warmth relaxes your scrotum skin, making it easier to detect anything abnormal. You’re also already naked.
Let’s now walk through the steps.
- Check each testicle with both hands. Your index and middle finger should be placed underneath your testicles, and your thumb at the top. Gently roll each testicle with your thumb and fingertips.
- When you feel your testicles, be on the lookout for any lumps that are hard. These lumps can be small or large and look like stones.
- Contact your doctor if you notice a lump.
You may have different sizes for your left and right testicles. Dr. Haywood says that’s fine. When you check your testicles month after month, take note of any changes in size, firmness, or shape. Call your doctor if you notice a change.
Last note: When you perform the self-examination, you will notice a cordlike object on top of and behind each testicle. It’s called the epididymis and is supposed to be present. The tubular structure is where sperm is stored and transported.
Do testicular lumps hurt?
Dr. Haywood notes that the lumps associated with testicular carcinoma are usually painless. This means they won’t draw attention or announce their presence as they would in a normal something is wrong way.
It’s up to you to discover them. That’s why it is recommended that you self-examine once a month following puberty.
Are there people who are at higher risk?
Some factors can increase your risk of developing testicular carcinoma and make self-examinations more important.
- The testicle is not descending.
- Testicular cancer in the family history
Infertility is also associated with testicular cancer. Testicular cancer also occurs more often in white people.
Why you should check your testicles
Even in its later stages, testicular cancer can be cured. Overall, 95% of cases are cured. Early detection can increase the success rate to 98%.
Any person with a testicle can develop testicular carcinoma. Most often, it occurs between 20 and 35 years old. Testicular cancer, in general, is not common. It is rare for it to cause death.
“But early detection is key,” says Dr. Haywood. Take two minutes every month to perform a self-exam.
